Motor vehicle



Jall- 25, 1944. F. w. sLAcK 2,340,149 I. MOTOR rVIPIICLE Filed July 14. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Jan. 25, 1'944.

F. W` SLACK MOTOR VHICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14. 1941 rw lian INVENTOR Ta/rz c )4f ZJC. BY

ATTORNEYS. y

Jan. 25, 1944. F. w. sLAcK 2,340,149

MOTOR VEHICLE Filed July 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 INVENTOR lA z ullnl'u/ mi mm Mr f ATToRNEYs.

F. w. sLAcK MOTOR VEHICLE Filed July 14 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same.

Patented Jan. 25, 1944 f.

T OFFICE Moron VEHICLE i,

Frederic W. slack, Detroit, Mien.;

'assignor to Chrysler Corporation; Highland i.A Park, ,Mch., a corporation of Delaware Application July 14, 1941,'s1fiarn A492,297

1 claim. y(ci. isofvc). l

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to automobiles of the passenger carrying types although not necessarily limited thereto.

In the conventional types of motor vehicles having an engine at the front and a drive passing to the rear ground wheels, it is common practice to provide a tunnel raised from the oor and ex"- tending longitudinally of the vehicle in order to accommodate vertical swing of the propeller shaft about its front pivot adjacent'the rear of the transmission, such arrangement being deemed necessary in order to position the vehicle body at frame as low as practicable. In certain inf stances the tunnel at the rear compartment has been made relatively shallow and the floor sloped laterally downwardly in opposite directions presenting, in effect, a wide inverted approximately V-shaped tunnel instead of the aforesaid somewhat more conventional arrangement of a narrow and more localized hump or tunnel. In either instance the resulting effect is generally the same in presenting an unsightly and undesirable floor which is uncomfortable to passengers seated on the rear seat,y presents a dangerous condition to passengers in entering and leaving the rear compartment, and prevents desirable use of the rear floor space for carrying travelling bags and providingr standing room for children.

It is an object oi my invention to ovecome the i aforesaid objections by providing a motor vehicle of the aforesaid rear wheel drive type wherein the oor of the rear compartment is flat and therefore free from the conventional hump, tunnel, or equivalent inverted ing hoor-Without sacrificing the desirable loW positioning of the frame and body. By reason of my invention, the frame and body may even'be disposed lower than heretofore possible and still maintain necessary minimum ground clearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved rear wheel drive arrangement for a motor vehicle.

An additional object is to provide an improved wheel suspension alfording simplification and improved riding characteristics.

Further objects and advantages of my invention reside in the novel combination andv arrangement of parts more particularly hereinafter described in detail in connection with one embodiment which my invention may assume, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view illustratingthe wide V-shaped slopgeneral arrangement of my motor vehicle chassis. 55

is a rear sectional 4ing forwardly at the rear view being Fig. 2;'1'

Fig; 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevational' view illustrating the drive from the propeller "shaft to the rear axle diierential.

' Fig. Y is atop plan view showing the rear wheel suspension, portions at the central region being 'broken-away,

Fig.-6 isa transverse sectional elevational view illustrating the oor at 'the rear compartment.

"Figf 7 Ais 'apla'n View illustrating the rear axle housing spring seats, the view being taken as in'- A'dic'ated byline 'lL-1 of Fig. 3. A

i Fig'. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevational'view' illustrating one of the coil spring nd shock absorber vmountings,V the View being '-taken'approximately as indicated by line 8-'8 'of Fig. 5` but showingthe lower spring seat bracket finelevation;

Referring 'to the drawings, I- have illustrated vmy motor vehicle as being'of the type having a chassis frame lA- although, if desired, the chassis 'frame may beincorporated as a unitary part of rthe 'body structurev A within keeping 'of the elevational view looktaken as indicated by line3-3 of 'broader aspects-of my invention. In -either event it-is desirable torprovide side frame longitudinals 'of some r`form. mounted as sprungfweight onthe wheels. FrameA comprisesa pair of main side channel rails I IJ,` ,Il being appropriately .rein- .forced by. the box-in channeLmembers l2v and having cross brace structures! 3, M, I 5 and I5. .The front steering groundwheels i7 are bypreference .independently sprung ,by .customary wishbone linkage I8 and coil springs |v9 in part shown in Fig. 2.

The engine v2l) is ysupported on mountings at 2l and at cross brace `I4 and is disposed with minimum necessary ground clearance. The en- .gine forms part of the assembly unit comprising housings 22` and 23 respectively for Yclutch and transmission, the drivepassing rearwardly from the transmission through theV drum of the parking'brake 24 ,andthen through a universal joint 25 of 'standard' construction, thence to the propeller shaftzf j A l l In the present `arrangement I have arranged theraxis 21 of the engine"'crankshaft and drive througl'ly the clutch' and transmission sloping slightlyA downwardly'and rearwardlyat about 4 with the horizontal, the propeller shaft having its axis 28 similarly sloping vfrom the center of joint 25at approximately'112 with the horizontal.

LVAt itsrear end the-propellershaft 26 is splned wheel suspension, the 4 connected to the cross frame memberV at 29 to the drive shaft 30 of a constant velocity type universal joint 3| whose driven shaft 32 terminates in splines 33 adjacent the terminal splines 34 of the drive shaft 35 of the hypoid gearing differential 36. A sleeve 31 drivingly connects the splined portions 33, 34 of shafts 32 and 35, a plurality of shims 38 being disposed between the adjacentvends of these shafts and constituting means .for adjusting the center 3|' of the joint 3| at the center of the spaced spherical guide segments 39, 40 for the intermediate spherical segment portion 4I carried at the forward end of the differential drive shaft housing assembly 42 which in turn is secured to the dinerential housing 43. v

Shaft 38 is suitably journalled at 44 in the forward universal joint housing 45 while shaft 35 is journalled by thrust bearings 46, 41 in the housing 43. The spherical portions 39, 40 and housing 45 are secured together by fasteners 48 l either directly or, by preference, through noise insulating rubber bushings 49. This arrangement provides a torque tube drive for the vehicle rear ground wheels 50 such that brake and drivereaction is taken through swinging unitary rhousing parts 43, 42 and 4| thence tothe spherical guides 39,49 andvcross member I5. Wheels 50 may rise and fall with the aforesaid swinging unit, being guided for vertical swinging about the center 3|' of joint 3|by the spherical guides39, 48.

The swinging unit 4|, 42 and 43 is of relatively short length and the universal joint 3| is located beneath the rear seat 5| of the rear passenger compartment 52 of the vehicle body A','the rear compartment being located as usual in back of the front seat 53 and thel front compartment 54. With this location of the universal joint, I avoid thenecessity of any tunnel at the floor of the rear compartment 52 because propeller shaft 26 is held at its ends against relative movement with respect tothe frame, except as to such minor displacement which may take place occasioned by the whole unit 28. 22, 23 moving slightly on the conventional rubber mountings at supports I4 and 2|. The floor housing for the universal joint is now locatedgbeneath seat 5| where it is concealed from view and where it cannot'interfere with freeA use of the floor between seats 53 and 5I which is now flat or planar and free from irregularities as will presently bemore apparent. At the same time the universal joint housing may project upwardly from thefloor level without penalizing the desired low level of the iioor Vor offering an unsightly appearance or obstruction to the passengers.

Referring. to Fig. 6 the hoor at therear compartment 52-formed by carpet 55 is now flat or planar between seats 5|. 53 and transversely of the vehicle between the side rails I6, Il. If desired the upper plane at carpet 55 may be formed as a metal structural floor part but in practice the metal oor support 56 is disposed below carpet 55 and secured by bolt assemblies 51 tothe side rails. Carpet 5511s shown with an under layer of jute 58 glued thereto and resting on a layer of insulation 59 which is glued to floor support 56.- The jute 58 and insulation 59- constitute Y filler material between iioor support 56 and the floor itself formed by carpet 55. Near the longitudinal center ofthe vehicle, in the interest of maintaining floor- 55 as low as possible, the jute and insulation are cut away to accommodate a localized longitudinally extending upward depresthe axis of shafts 66 and sion at 68 formed in the floor support 56 whereby to accommodate the propeller shaft 26.

At each side of compartment 52 laterally outwardly of side rails I0 and Il the floor support 56 has an outboard running board portion 6I fitted with a rubber tread `62 which at l63 receives an edge of oor 55, the jute and insulation being cut back somewhat in order to provide a smooth fit for the floor and tread at 63. A door 64 of body A' encloses each running board portion 6| and constitutes a side boundary of body A' at compartment 52.

Securely fixed to the 43 is the rear axle housing 5l)V and for housing the whichr receive drive from differential 36 in the customary manner. Welded to housing `65 are the spring support brackets 61, 68 (Fig. 1) each being in the form of a downwardly cupped stamping provided with a plurality of threaded openings and aligned nuts 69 welded to the bottom face of each of the brackets for receiving the stud bolts 18 whereby to attach a lower spring clamp 1| to the bracket. Y Bracket 61 has a rearward projection 12 carrying a fastener assembly 13 (Figs. 5 andy 8) for mounting one end of a transversely extending stabilizer bar 14, the other end of which is connected to the side rail Each of the brackets 61 and 68 has a forward projection 15 adapted to engage a jounce rubber bumper 16 (Figs. 5 and 8) depending from the lower flange of each side rail for limiting movement ofA the axle housing 65 upwardly toward the side rails. Each ofthe brackets 61 and 6,8 also has an opening 11 through which a support 18 extends from welded connection with axle housing 65 upwardly to carry the fastener assembly 19 for mounting the lower end of an upstanding hydraulic shock absorber 89 of the telescoping type. Each shock absorber prefere ably has a rubber bushing mounting 8| so arranged that the center point of movement of the lower end of the shock absorber on the fastener 19 lies at point 82 which is spaced rearwardly from the transverse vertical plane 83 containing housing 65. The'axis 84 ofthe shock absorber inclines upwardly and forwardlytoward plane 83.

Each bracket 61, 68 supports the lower end of a coil spring 85 whose vertical axis lies approximately in plane 83 such that the shock absorber pivot 82 is offset longitudinally from the axis of the coil spring which surrounds the lower portion of the shock absorber. At the region of the coil springs, each frame side rail ID, Il is bowed laterally outwardly at 86 (Fig. 5) for accommodating a coil spring 85 and for riveted connection with the hollow cylindrical end portion 81 ofthe cross brace 88 having the bottom outwardly directed marginal stiffening flange 89 riveted at its ends to the bottomflange of the side rails as at 90 (Fig. 8). A spring 85 has its upper end extending into a cylindrical portion 81 and seated on the upper wall 9| thereof, this wall having an opening 92 through which a shock absorber 80 extends for connection at point 93 with the fastener 94 carried by a bracket 95 which extends downwardly along the wheel house 96 in welded engagement therewith and then terminates in an inturned flange 91 seated on a steel block 98 (Figs. 3 and 8) welded to the wall 9| adjacent frame portion 86. The block 98 affords a means for bolting the bracket to cross member 88, each block having threaded openings 99 for receiving a fastener |80 passing through. flange 91.

differential housing part 65 for mounting wheels wheel drive shafts 66 Thus the upper supports for the shock absorbers are firmly supported and structurally tied with the wheel houses and cross brace 38 at regions of maximum rigidity adjacent the side rails.

In addition to the lower shock absorber support points 82 being offest longitudinally rearwardly from the transverse plane 83 containing the axes of coil springs 85 and shafts B6, the upper support points 93 of the shock absorbers are also oifset laterally outwardly from the coil spring axes I l. This arrangement compensates for the rising and falling of the wheels about the point of swing at 3| and when one wheel rises and falls relative to another without causing any .binding of the shock absorbers at openings 92 or without requiring undesirably large diameter coil springs 85 or openings 92.

Referring to the stabilizer bar 14 having one end thereof connected to axle housing 65 at the bracket projection 72, this stabilizer bar has its opposite end connected at fastener |02 (Figs. 3 and 5) mounted on a bracket |03 which is securely attached to the flange 89 of cross member 88 and to the side rail at the juncture of these frame parts and rearwardly adjacent the right coil spring housing'S'l.

By reason of my invention, I have provided a flat iioor 55 for the rear compartment 52 disposed at desirably low level without interference with the propeller shaft 2E extending beneath the iioor, thereby lowering the center of gravity, enhancing safety, riding qualities and appearance, as well as adding to the comfort of the passengers. Furthermore my arrangement provides for a forward continuance of the low level planar floor arrangement beneath the major portion of the depth of the front seat 53 for accommodating of one or more car heaters |04 or other accessories not heretofore accommodated largely because of the necessity of a tunnel for the conventional vertically swinging propeller shaft.

The arrangement of my novel rear wheel torque tube type of drive provides for taking drive thrust and brake reaction at the frame cross member 5 thereby leaving the propeller shaft free for driving function.

Practically the entire portion of floor at the 4rear compartment longitudinally between seats 5|, 53 and transversely between the body side boundaries at doors 64 is in a common plane including the door portion in the region above the propeller 26. The deviation from this plane of thejoor portion outwardly of side rails l0, between fasteners 51 and mat portions 63 at running board 6| is very slight and constitutes only a boundary merging of the floor with the running board mat 62.

I claim:

In a motor vehicle having a rigid rear axle housing carrying the rear vehicle wheels for rising and falling movements, a drive housing structure extending forwardly from said axle housing, a frame structure, spherical joint means between said drive housing and frame structures for compelling swing of said axle housing and drive housing structure about the center of said spherical joint means when said rear wheels rise and fall relative to said frame structure, a drive shaft carrying a universal joint drive portion, means journalling said drive shaft on said frame structure, a driven shaft carrying a universal joint driven portion operably connected to said universal joint drive portion such that the universal joint center lies at the center of said spherical joint means, said driven shaft having a splined rearv end portion, a second driven shaft having a forward splined end portion, a sleeve engaging the splines of said driven shafts to effect drive connection therebetween while accommodating adjusting axial displacement of said first drive shaft, shim means between said driven shafts for adjustingly displacing said rst drive shaft there- .by to center said universal joint with said spherical joint means, said driven shafts being disposed in said drive housing structure for transmitting drive from said drive shaft to said rear wheels.

FREDERIC W. SLACK. 

